I think this works but your could improve it by doing the following:

1. Don't use the font, "papyrus". It is very overused and doesn't really look quite right in the application
2. Make the logo stand out more.
3. The rounded corners are too much. Everywhere I look I see rounded corners.
4. Navigation highlight needs to be the same color red as the background
5. The design is too broken up and segmented.
6. Make your gradients on the background much more subtle.

That should help you improve things here. Keep working on this...

I'm sure that you know better, and it was client who chose Papyrus so I won't get into that..haha. But I would however, make that logo stand out a lot more (like you did with "delightful recipes).

Second, the navigation bar doesn't seem to belong with the other elements. Try to go somewhere like you have done with the lower section (i.e. the jagged lines/"paper" feel), to integrate the navigation bar more.

I do like the jagged lines, but I don't like the harsh edge from the top frame. I'd lower that down until the edge is hidden.

Finally, the background gradient is too drastic. I'd like to see how it would look without fading to black, and just to the darker red.

It needs some improvements with type treatment and layout, but overall I think that your heading in the right direction.

I'd give this one the "Mom/Girlfriend Test" and see what she thinks.

My eyes jump around the design, too.

PS - Convince the client to use a font besides Papyrus! Then delete it from your computer!

The bottom coupon option and gallery was nice, but the banner collage not merged properly, need some finetunings, nice bg image

Nate made many of the points I would make as well. So I'll do my best not to repeat too much of what he said.

1. I think Red and Black color combo is way too overused. Maybe try a dark gray with a pleasant highlight color. If you feel strongly about red try something other than "fire engine" red.

2. Rounded corners can work in moderation, but if you go too overboard with them it can be too much. Contrast is a GOOD thing so mix it up with some squares.

3. Your font choices are just really killing this. You need to buy some books about how fonts work together. Papyrus is just a horrible font. Yuk!

You have a good start here. Keep working on it!

This layout is in good shape and the design is pretty good. I like how you overlap the recipes over the main image - it creates some depth. For improvement, i'd recommend making the main image shape a bit more organic rather than masking it in a rectangle. It will give the design more appeal. Also, I don't like the triangle dividers - they really segment these two sections. Finally, the image gallery box doesn't fit with the others and as a result, it draws my attention to the bottom right corner.

A few tweaks and this will be looking great.

I think the layout and general direction of what you have is pretty good but could be improved.

The primary navigation style is too bubbly, this effect is overdone. A plain type treatment would be more unique.

The red box on the right is not working. It is not descriptive, a heading would help. The placement is fine but it looks incomplete.

I would consider making the triangles of your decorative black content background much smaller. I think they bring too much attention themselves.

Please change the typeface. Papyrus is not a very elegant font.

Not much to be said here - I like it. It would be nice to see if you could make the site a little bit more personal an cosy though - a face, a person, a chef - anything to make it more personal and cosy.

I think that it good but too diabolic at all. black and red - colors of danger.

Too bright background. I don't like these "spikes" of the header. You should get rid of the glow in the menu. The logo is in low contrast.

The bottom three boxes.... Typos doesn't go well and the rest is good. the objective is met

Sorry for the late review (didt have time). I like it but it still needs some work, I agree with Nate at the 2 3 4 5. But my main problem is with the content area, looks to crowded , try adding some "black" space after the text. Its hard to focus on the text with that big ads all around, i would make them smaller and try to get some focus on the text. i think it`s more important than the ads. Keep working, it will turn out nice with a bit more work.